Minute webOS smartphone, HP Veer 4G, to launch on AT&T May 15

The first of HP's three upcoming webOS devices, post Palm acquisition, will be launching on AT&T on May 15. The tiny HP Veer 4G, compatible with AT&T's HSPA+ network, will offer an entry-level price of $99.99 with contract to entice feature phone users to join the smartphone crowd.

The Veer 4G is more or less a shrunken version of the original Palm Pre. It features an 800MHz Qualcomm Snapdragon, a 320 x 400 pixel touchscreen, and a vertical-sliding QWERTY keyboard. The 3.63-ounce device is about the size of a deck of cards, however, which AT&T said is "perfect for feature phone or quick messaging phone users looking for all of the features and capabilities of a smartphone without compromising on size and style."

As many Android devices have started using 4" or larger screens, the Veer's tiny 2.6" screen will seem paltry in comparison. But the device packs a 5MP camera with video, 8GB of flash storage, aGPS, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, HSDPA speeds that exceed 14.4Mbps (where AT&T's backhaul can support it), and a Flash-enabled WebKit browser, all in a very pocketable package. Besides the small screen, the Veer also has less room for a sizable battery, but HP claimed the device's 910mAh Li-ion battery is good for "up to 5.0 hours of talk time or up to 300 hours of standby time."

The device runs webOS 2.1, with complete e-mail, IM, SMS, MMS, and Facebook integration. It also includes a mobile hotspot feature, which AT&T supports with its top-tier 4GB Data Pro plan. And it comes preloaded with AT&T Navigator for subscription-based turn-by-turn directions. However, the Veer is also compatible with the ample catalog of webOS apps.

It's worth noting that the Veer 4G is not a 4G LTE device, but it does support fast HSPA+ speeds where available. Both AT&T and T-Mobile have taken to referring to advanced HSPA+ support as 4G since the speeds are comparable to LTE and WiMax deployments by Verizon and Sprint respectively. An AT&T spokesperson told Ars that all of the company's 3G equipment has been updated with HSPA+ software support, good for 7.2Mbps in many areas, and "above 14.4Mbps in areas with enhanced backhaul." AT&T's LTE deployment is "still on track for midyear," but the Veer 4G won't be compatible with that standard.